Angelys M. Rivera Hernández
Undergraduate Student
Faculty of Natural Sciences
Dept. of Biology
University of Puerto Rico
Río Piedras Campus
Home Research
Mentor: Christian Bravo Rivera, PhD
Project: (1) Sex differences in reward approach/punishment avoidance conflict in mice.
(2) Lateral habenula circuits in approach/avoidance conflict
Project Description:
(1)Some individuals exhibit poor choices during risk-reward opportunities and thus exhibit extreme avoidance or risky behaviors that can impair quality of life or endanger people. It is, therefore, necessary to characterize how neurons mediate reward approach and threat avoidance conflict. Here, we used a novel approach-avoidance conflict task to characterize differences in behavior and neuronal activity in mice.
(2) • Study the necessity and sufficiency of the lateral habenula during conflict conditions.
• Study the connectivity of the lateral habenula-ventral pallidum-nucleus accumbens circuit under conflict conditions.
• Study sex differences in mice under conflict conditions.
Summer Research
Mentor: Pending
Project: Pending
Project Description: Pending